CARE OF THE STRAWBERRY 499 



Staminate and Pistillate. In associating varieties be sure the 

 pistillate varieties are not set by themselves. Some sorts have 

 perfect flowers and are self- fertilizing; others have only the pistil- 

 late element in the bloom and must have the staminate adjacent in 

 another variety. All the varieties largely grown in California have 

 perfect flowers, though some pistillate sorts have been locally ap- 

 proved. 



Care of the Strawberry Plantation. Herein lies the secret of 

 success with the strawberry. Neglect has led to disappointment and 

 condemnation of the strawberry, where intelligent care would have 

 rendered it a constant delight. The cheap elements of proper care 

 may be thus enumerated : 



Retention of moisture very near the surface by careful, shallow 

 cultivation or by mulching, persistent destruction of weeds, and 

 compensation for summer evaporation by frequent irrigation. The 

 plants during the bearing season should never be allowed to show 

 any leaf-shriveling from drouth. Frequency of irrigation depends 

 upon local conditions. Irrigation at intervals of four to ten days, 

 according to the soil, are the outlines of prevailing practice. 



Constant removal of runners from all plants except those it is 

 desired to multiply to furnish new plants or to fill the rows. Pinch- 

 ing of runners should always accompany picking or hoeing of 

 weeds, and on the garden bed there can be no excuse for neglect 

 in this respect. The young plants should be faithfully freed from 

 runners to strengthen them up for bearing. 



Though, as already stated, strawberries may in some locations 

 be had all winter, it is better practice, as a general rule, to lay the 

 plants away for a rest. The market season in the regions supplying 

 the San Francisco market extends from April to December, and 

 fruit is continuously shipped during that period. At the approach 

 of winter in the last-named month, it is usual to go over the beds 

 with a sickle, cutting off the old crops of leaves close to the root 

 crown, carefully cleaning up the plantation for the heavy rains. In 

 most cases it will be a great advantage then to cover over all with 

 a light coat of good manure, which the winter rains will leach down 

 in to the soils. The result of the fall clipping and enriching will 

 be an early and strong start of the plant in the spring, and a most 

 abundant fruitage. 



Duration of the Plantation. Strawberry plants well cared for 

 and not visited by insect pests, have a long, productive, and profit- 

 able life in California. Twelve-year-old plants are sometimes re- 

 ported as still producing abundantly. It is customary to count from 

 five to eight years as the profitable life of a plant, though some 

 growers replant after two bearing years. The effective duration 

 depends directly upon preventing growth of plants and too close 

 matting of the rows. 



